Recent Comments:
Land Rover's CO2 challenge as a part of Tata Motors {Autoblog Green}
Mar 28th 2008 1:43PM As a matter of fact, Tata was the preferred buyer of the unions and the buyout has generally received positive press in UK. Those who still associate British brands with British 'pride' (whatever that means) have few and far between in the UK since... WWI? WW2? The idea that Britain is a highly patriotic country is largely a perception of those outside the UK, often used by those in former British colonies to justify their own jingoism. In fact, the UK is markedly unpatriotic compared to most countires, barring a few right-wingers. Even most conservatives are hardly flag-wavers. Excessive patriotism has had a bad name in western Europe since aforementioned conflicts, for obvious reasons. Besides, anyone who's stupid enough to equate modern, purely business decisions with their culutral identity truly has been taken in by slick marketing.
BMW 520d beats Prius in gas mileage {Autoblog}
Mar 23rd 2008 3:45PM It's got 177hp actually, and it does 0-62 in 8.1 seconds, which is a damn sight quicker than a Prius...
Alfa Romeo releases the new Mi.To {Autoblog}
Mar 14th 2008 2:23PM It's pronounced "me toe", assuming that it's supposed to be pronounced as is the word mito (myth) in Italian/Spanish.
Geneva 2008: Production Toyota iQ unveiled, smart in sight {Autoblog}
Mar 4th 2008 2:04PM Such a vehicle already exists - the Aygo.
Geneva 2008: Here comes the Audi Q7 V12 TDI! {Autoblog}
Mar 2nd 2008 7:11AM The torque is electronically limited. Despite the boasts, the torque:capacity ratio is not that good for a diesel. It is limited to 1000 NM The transmission most likely can't cope with any more.
REPORT: Alfa Romeo hatch named MITO, launch after Geneva show {Autoblog}
Feb 29th 2008 6:45AM There was also a Cagiva motorbike called the Mito (as in "legend", literally 'myth' as stated above). It was a 125 w/ a 7-speed gearbox and 34 bhp out of the box... The torque output was appoximately 0.
In the UK, one could not ride it derestricted even with a full license for the 1st two years after passing your test (if under 21) as you were restricted to 33 bhp for two years.
Buy a Euro IV-compliant taxi without paying a penny until 2009 {Autoblog Green}
Feb 28th 2008 6:43AM Writing an article without checking a single dictionary?
Without paying a pence?
The singular is "penny".
"Pennies" is also acceptable, but the connotation is different.
Micro to become macro? GM looking at competing with the Nano {Autoblog}
Jan 27th 2008 1:52AM There are still comments here that the Nano is unsafe compared to US cars/existing Indian cars/trucks etc. This is totally missing the point. The competitors to the Nano are motorbikes, scooters and maybe autorickshaws. The Nano is undoubtedly safer than taking your entire family on a motorcycle as millions of people in India and other asian developing countries do every day. I'd rather be hit by a truck riding in a Nano that be hit by a truck with my 2 year-old sitting on the petrol tank and my 6 month-old sitting between the rider and his mother who is travelling side-saddle pillion, all without helmets. This is the reality of what the Nano will replace for many who buy it.
Tata and Chrysler sign deal to import electric Ace {Autoblog}
Jan 24th 2008 11:00PM btw, in India these trucks are usually powered by 2-cylinder diesel engines, not electric motors. That seems to be for export + maybe some emission restricted areas within India.
What $2,500 buys in India: Tata Nano unveiled {Autoblog}
Jan 10th 2008 7:43AM Some of these comments are a little wide of the mark. People in developing countries can’t buy cheap 2nd hand cars because there aren’t many available. Unlike in developed countries, new car sales are low, and the cost of insurance, repairs, emissions testing etc. (all of which make running older cars uneconomical in the west) are lower. Depreciation is therefore less. In Mexico, anything that works well is worth c. $1000, in India fair condition cars rarely drop below 1 lakh (Rs. 100,000) except for old jeeps, which are too uneconomical. Additionally, there is some cultural bias against buying 2nd hand in India. Thus there is a demand for a cheap new car, whereas in the developed world we would buy 2nd hand. And BTW, cheap cars in India usually have one rear view mirror. This used to be true in Europe.
As for fuel, this is surely self-regulating. As the price goes up, consumption will eventually go down or alternatives will be found. Traffic congestion is appalling in Indian cities but infrastructure is being built e.g. Bangalore Metro + new highways.
